Get the Dirt Out!

It's May and it's time for Spring Cleaning. Days are longer and the light is brighter. Now I'm seeing all those places where the dust bunnies were hiding all winter long. Goodness knows, I should be more vigilant in my housework.

Are you a great cleaner? Please respond to this post if you are and share your secret. My motivation needs a kick start. I would much rather be piddling in the garden, planting new living things, and moving overgrown plants around.

When I think about dirty vs. clean I am reminded of the scripture that says "our sins, though they be scarlet, will be made whiter than snow." Ever try to get dried cherry stains out of a white dress blouse or shirt? It's next to impossible. But all things are possible with God.

He says when we are forgiven of the "dirt" in our souls, those sins are tossed far away, as far as the east is from the west. How amazing to know God can and will make us whiter than snow inside for holy fellowship with Him and with others.

While we are preparing our homes for company this summer and getting the dirt out, let's remember to confess our sins, too. Admitting where we have failed as disciples of our Lord can be a time of much needed self-examination and also relief as we share with Jesus, the one who loves us most.



Blessings and Agape,

Dr. Linda B. Greer

Birthday Musings

Did you ever think, “I never thought I would live this lo-o-o-o-ng?” However, God knew it, and suddenly over half your life is behind you. It's an odd place to view things with your exit to Heaven much closer than your entrance to Earth.

If you are deeply honest, you can see you have made some great choices and some really bad ones. You can also see the sin in this broken world is truly a stumbling block. Praise God for taking all of it and making something beautiful of our lives!

When you mentally recount all the really difficult times in your past, you can also see how God intentionally grew you most as a disciple during those same times. Instead of tumultuous times, they were intense “go-to-God times”. You realized when the going got tough; you got going—to the arms of God. And why is it so? Because we are only strongest when we are weakest as the apostle Paul so aptly said.

Praise God in all things and give Him thanks for whatever part of your life you are living. His plan far surpasses any concoction we could ever cook up on our own. He’s our north star when everything in our earthly body is going south. Reminds me of this old hymn:

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” (Helen H. Limmel, 1922)

In more modern language, instead of focusing on your problems and glancing at God, focus on God and glance at your problems. Isn't it a relief to know when God is in the middle of it all, we are securely headed homeward?

Blessings and Agape,

Dr. Linda B. Greer

Almost to First Base

Dr. Edna Ellison has written dozens of books and is a well-known speaker for Christian conferences and writers’ events. I remember sitting at Edna’s dining table several months ago while we were discussing some detail about our current writing project. I said, “Whatever is easiest. I like quick and easy.”

In her jovial repartee, she replied, “If you want ‘quick and easy’, then never write a book.”

I broke out in peals of laughter. Edna has certainly taught me to be patient and wait on the Lord’s timing for things to move forward on our project. So far she has had some family emergencies, a move of her household, and we’ve both had our computers to crash. We’ve both lost digital files, she’s had a printer die on her, and summer guests have come and gone for both of us.

But praise be to God, we are nearing first base in our Bible study project. This weekend we will be getting the proposal finalized. It’s only six weeks past our self-imposed deadline to submit it to publishers—but who’s counting? Tomorrow we meet again for one last look over the printed master copy and make final edits. The various cover letters are written and waiting signatures. The envelopes are addressed and awaiting postage. The rabbit has been killed and the test is positive—we are giving birth to a book!

I want to take this space to give great thanks to Edna for mentoring me through all things and giving me such great guidance. I thank God that He gave her the patience of Job, the cheerfulness of a bluebird in spring, and the wisdom of an Old Testament prophet. She has more experience than I ever hope to have in the writing world.

Several times she told me, “We make a good team.” When there was something she couldn’t do with technology I could. When there was something about technology I couldn’t do, she could. When I needed help, she gave from her own wisdom, and when she needed the right phrase, it sprouted like a weed out of my mouth. If it weren’t heretical, I would label us the Ying and Yang Writing Project Society.

Here’s a beautiful hat off to you, Edna!

From your favorite ogre,

Linda B. Greer

Call for Submissions to a Bible Study I'm Writing

Dear Readers and Friends,

Dr. Edna Ellison and I are finishing a manuscript for a new Bible Study to give spiritual triage to grieving parents who've lost a child. But there's one testimony we don't have yet and would very much like to get. We need a parent who has about 5 years of healing from the loss of a child by self-murder.

I know this is a lot to ask since this particular loss carries more baggage than most deaths, but I really sense God wants us to include a testimony on how a parent was able to move through the first year toward healing and keeping his/her faith on course.

If you know anyone, please have them send me an email at drgreer@charter.net so we can exchange phone numbers and talk together. As you know, my own daughter's 10th anniversary of entrance to heaven was this year in February. As you may have guessed, I wrote the first testimony for our book and Edna did the commentary on my testimony. We have many brave parents who've made contributions and feel awed by their courage and faith in our Lord.

Well, hope all is well with everyone this Christmas. If it's not, take it to the Lord in much prayer and learn from your trials, friends.

Keeping the Faith One More Year,
Dr. Linda B. Greer

Waiting in Deep by Sandi Denkers

The first novel Sandi has written and published is a culmination of a decade of pondering sudden death and loss of a close family member. Sandi has taken from her own experience and added lovable and unforgettable characters in a story of faith, fear, and frustration in relationships. The setting is a small town in the Upstate of South Carolina, some of her own stomping grounds. The time period is in the 70's when friction should have been fierce between the black and white populations. Somehow this is not the case in such a small town as make-believe Mt. Brayden. For two neighbors, as different as North and South, it is a whole lot of laughs, some tears, some fervent prayer, and the friendship of a young white girl from up the street that bring the story to life.

Lottie Johnson learns over the course of this novel and the growing up years of her little friend, Rebecca, that life has more to it than just a flower garden and a pesky neighbor, Dovie. Lottie evolves from a tight rosebud to full bloom through her first tentative overnight sleepover for Rebecca's birthday party to a forgiving and caring older relation for her alcoholic cousin, Edgar.

The sparring between Dovie and Lottie is reminiscent of a Laurel and Hardy slapstick. Dovie is as jovial and big-hearted as Lottie is closed and sparse in her compliments. Rebecca has the ability to befriend both women, but particularly loves Lottie for her uncanny skill in making beauty come forth from the dirt. The two make a pact early in the novel to trade talent: Rebecca tutoring Lottie in her math and English, while Lottie teaches Rebecca about all her flowers and how to coax the best from them year after year to sell at the local florist, Rebecca's mother.

One of the best parts in the book are the journaling Lottie does. My favorite quote of all is from one of these:
     "Death is awful fierce. After it cuts those living into little pieces, grief comes along to watch
      them bleed."

There's more to the novel to help Lottie move along her journey of healing, but you'll just have to read Waiting in Deep for yourself. Enjoy the quick read and see how things turn out for Lottie, Rebecca, Dovie, and Edgar. The book is available at Amazon in both paperback and Kindle format. It is also sold at Barnes and Noble.

Agape and Blessings,
Dr. Linda B. Greer

Kathi Macias Writes Two More Great Books: The Moses Quilt and Last Chance for Justice

I have done two book readings this summer of Kathi Macias' latest novels, The Moses Quilt and Last Chance for Justice. As usual, Kathi took her stand on interracial marriage and gave it a new twist in the first novel and also wrote a combination mystery and "redefining-yourself-as-a-widow" in the second.

In The Moses Quilt there's a love story about an older African-American Christian man, Edward, and younger Caucasian woman, Mazie. The story opens with Mazie's concern for her aging grandmother, Mimi, who lives with Mazie and her mother. The three generation of women in the house are a backdrop for a wonderful history lesson about Harriet Tubman of Civil War Underground Railway renown.

Each evening, Mazie and Edward learn more about Harriet Tubman through Mimi's stories about the patches on the Moses Quilt, a family heirloom. Mazie is inspired by Harriet's courage, her faith in God's provision and her life after the Civil War to help freed slaves and also speak for women's suffrage. Edward's love of the stories about one of African-Americans' heroines only endears him more to Mazie and her family.

Despite repeated efforts to get a commitment of marriage from Mazie, Edward stays mystified until he and Mazie make a trip to a small rural town in Georgia where the quilt was made. You'll have to read the book to find out if Mazie and Edward can "take the leap" for love when the quilt's meaning is fully revealed.

Last Chance for Justice is an unsettling homecoming story for Lynn, a middle-aged grieving widow, who is beckoned back to her small town, Bloomfield, at the death of her much older brother. Myron has left her his big old home next to the town cemetery, an eerie location to be sure. But he has also left a mystery for Lynn to solve.

Lynn and her adult daughter, Rachel, search through  Myron's papers trying to find clues to rectify the reputation of an African-American boy accused of stealing the church Sunday School offering many decades ago. As their search continues, they become acclimated to the town and the home. Bloomfield grows on both of them,  especially Rachel as she begins to have two love interests at once from two young handsome men, one a youth pastor and the other a successful businessman.

You will have to read Last Chance for Justice to find out which young man wins Rachel's heart and to learn whether or not they find the lost Sunday School money. Myron's dying wish was for Lynn to clear the name of this young man, Last Chance, long since buried in the cemetery beside Lynn's inherited home. Last Chance's only surviving sister is reclusive but still believing God can work a miracle on behalf of her deceased brother.

To purchase these books go to:
 http://www.amazon.com/Moses-Quilt-Kathi-Macias/dp/1596693584/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377358470&sr=1-1&keywords=kathi+macias+books

http://www.amazon.com/Last-Chance-Justice-Bloomfield-Novel/dp/1433677172/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377358470&sr=1-2&keywords=kathi+macias+books

Blessings and Agape,
Dr. Linda B. Greer

Memorial Day for our Armed Forces

This is a bittersweet day for many folks. Some have returned from wars to ponder their fallen friends. Some have spouses who served and died. Some have sons, daughters, or cousins who never returned alive. It is a day of contemplation and humble remembrance for the warriors of our country who put themselves in harm's way to fight the good fight.

They gave everything they could so we could be free in this country. I appreciate their sacrifices so very much having lived in a middle east nation for a year. I saw what it was like for people who did not have freedom and never tasted democracy and a republic nation.

Freedom comes in many forms. Even enslaved Americans from centuries past knew true freedom comes from an inward sense of worth given to each person by our God. Knowing Jesus, the Son of God, died to give us ultimate freedom to be his brother or sister for eternity can outweigh even the grimmest of our life's circumstances. The gospel songs of the South rooted in slavery speak to that level of freedom. "One glad morning when this life is o'er, I'll fly away..."

Today is a bittersweet day. For the ones who survived and who remained behind, let us remember those who did not. But more importantly, let us continue to fight the real enemy of Christ, the devil and all his deceptions and lies. Daily, let us put on the "full armor of God" and do what we can to protect ourselves as believers. To pray for one another and a hedge of protection from the attacks of the devil is our due diligence as we trod this sin-torn earth, awaiting the day we "fly away" home.

Blessings and Agape,

Dr. Linda B. Greer

Ding Dong

Remeber the Munchkins' beginning song for our classic version of The Wizard of Oz? I doubt the kind of merriment we all felt from it is present in the new pre-quel, The Land of Oz. Why should the retelling of traditional lore in our culture be "updated" to include confusion, terror, and woefully wicked looking creatures? Even Jack the Giant Slayer previews scare the pudding out of me.

 

With Easter coming in less than two weeks, our cultural tolerance for terror seems to have lessened the horror of the Cross. But I say, "Ding Dong, the devil's dead, the mean old thing, the mean old thing. Ding dong, the wickedness is dead." At least for Christ: He overcame everything the devil hurled his way. Jesus was victorious, whole, and gallant rising up on His third day from the grave. "Death where is thy sting?" Absolutely nowhere to be found in the truth of the resurrection.

As many of you who follow me know, I felt the sting of death when my young and very pregnant daughter was murdered ten years ago on Valentine's Day. God had his hand on all of the brokeness of her body parts, finally found in a large plastic trash can on Easter Monday. It was His way of telling me that her earth suit had been decimated, but her spirit, and that of her little girl, had risen in wholeness to be with Christ. God's timing is so elegant and so perfect.

There truly is power in the blood of Christ slain for all sinners. Had it not been for my faith in Him, I would not have peace in knowing I would see April and her child once again. Death has lost its sting. I thirst for this magnificently joyful reunion in heaven with them and my husband of only nine years--all in the presence of the King of kings, my strong tower and my best friend.

In honor of this year's celebration of eternal life, I have decided to sponsor one more child through the Africa Renewal Ministries in Uganda, a developing country in the heartland of Africa bordering Lake Victoria. Her name is Lilian. It reminds me of Jesus, the Lilly of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star. She is in second grade and close to the age of my grandson, Andrew. Lilian's birthday is tomorrow, and I bless her with the hope within all who look to God for our eternal salvation and who seek gallant victory over each day on this earth. Ding dong, the wickedness is dead through Christ.
                                                           
                                                                   Lilian

Blessings and Agape,
Linda B. Greer

Warming Up With Joy

Lately, Spartanburg has been down in the twenties in temperature for the last several days. There are times when I simply cannot feel warm in my own home despite the layers of clothing. Even my tub feels colder than normal when I'm soaking. I can't imagine what it's like for the homeless people who have no shelter at all.

As we approach the celebration of Christ's resurrection, we see there are many needs in our communities, our states, and our nation. Christ had a knack for meeting needs as he went about His father's business. We sometimes forget there are ways we can meet needs as we go about our business.

For instance, today I had interaction with people at two different stores. I intentionally wanted to be kind and cheerful because these people work very hard for very little money. Most young single people are finding the job market in today's economy extremely challenging. Any kind word I can give them is a bonus hopefully.

Recently I donated an older washer and dryer to a combined family of a mom and two pregnant daughters with no husbands. it was a joy to see these stored items put to good use even though I could've fetched a couple of hundred dollars by selling them.  I was able to meet a need just like Christ did, and I knew it was the right thing to do. The feedback I got from my neighbor, who delivered the washer and dryer, was well worth the effort. The mom and her daughters were teasing each other about getting to go first doing their laundry. The imagery of their happy faces will stay with me a long time. And when the babies arrive, there will be clean clothes and bedding for their small bodies.

I don't want to brag, but it seems to me I've turned a spiritual corner.  It's been 10 years since my pregnant daughter, April, was murdered, and I feel great promise in getting mail from my first granddaughter by April.  This little girl was adopted from birth and now we are corresponding by regular mail.  It's like having a little piece of heaven here on earth knowing  this little girl is now 12 years old and the only person on the planet with April's DNA.  My heart is so encouraged knowing someone, who looks like April, is somewhere in western North Carolina. I want to thank God by joyfully meeting needs as I go.

April at 12 years

When I think about Christ on the cross and the Scripture that says he did it "for the joy set before Him", I understand suffering has a place and a purpose in this life. Christians will all sustain joy in heaven, but it's His gracious gift to have heavenly joy here and now as part of our walk with Christ.

Search your mind and soul for something exquisitely joyful in your life today and spread the joy as you go about your business.  Christ said his followers would be recognized by the love they had for one another. I think you could substitute "joy" for "love" and still be true to His word, don't you?

Blessings and Agape,
Linda B. Greer

Pray Without Ceasing

 

Have you ever prayed for someone for a very long time? Have you wondered if God is tired of the same prayer from you? Do you think He will never give you an answer? Don't ever stop believing in God's power for the answer swathed in His plan, delivered with sugar on top, and sweeter than you ever imagined.

I had a granddaughter from my daughter, April, who was adopted at birth in February 2001. It was the last time I saw Ashton's tiny face. Two years later Ashton's biological sister was about to be born when April and little Heaven were murdered by the babies' father, Jerry Stuart. I felt as if my whole life had been swept into the valley of Gehenna.

For years I prayed for the remaining adopted granddaughter and her adoptive parents. For twelve years I sent anonymous gifts and cards through the adoption agency. I hoped someday Ashton would be able to meet me. After my daughter's murder, I set my sights on a 16-year solitary journey of hope until she came of age and I could seek her out.

In my waiting, I wondered if Ashton even knew she was adopted. I wondered if her parents had considered the circumstances of her biological mother's death and chose to say nothing. If she turned 18 and chose not to see me, would I be crushed once again by circumstances outside my control?

Last weekend Ashton turned twelve years of age. I had sent her another anonymous card for Valentine's and a pair of earrings. Last Saturday I went to check my mailbox and opened a letter from the adoption agency. Inside was a red envelope with my first name printed on the outside. Inside was a Valentine from Ashton, a long note about her life now, how she was sad she wouldn't meet her birth mother in this life, and a picture of herself.

Guess what I did? Yeah, I wept. My whole world swirled into a new orbit with the opening of a red envelope with sugar on top and sweeter than I ever imagined. I have written my first letter, addressed it to the adoption agency, and christened it with my first name.

Lord you are able.

Blessings and Agape,
Dr. Linda B. Greer

Emmanuel is Here!

"The Lord is come." This is a strange verb to use, but it means Jesus, our Lord and Savior, is here and will always be with us on earth through his Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus as our Savior. God came in the form of a man to be crucified, but now He resides as the Holy Spirit in each veritable Christian.

How wonderful to know we, as Christ-followers, each carry a small but epically important light for a dark and dreadful world. The horror of the recent point blank murders of 20 small school children and 8 adults in Newtown, Connecticut, are severe evidence of Satan's dominion over the earth. Satan is fighting his last battles to discourage and dishearten as many Christians as he can. 

But the day is coming when "the trump shall resound", and the Lord will return in all His Glory. Holy terror will fill the hearts of those who never claimed Jesus as Lord. But holy awe and joy will fill the hearts and souls of Christians, those who have waited and prayed, "Come, Lord Jesus!"

Today in church, the pastor said you do not have to hate God in order to be judged and damned to eternal hell--it only takes apathy about Jesus. You simply turn your eyes away from God, disregard all of the Bible's pleas to surrender your life to Christ and you qualify. You can even be profoundly charitable or astoundingly gifted and still go to the depths of hell. "What is man that God should be mindful of him?"

The distillation of faith sequesters this decisive question: Who is Jesus to you, personally?

I believe Jesus Christ, the Son of God, saved me from damnation by taking my sins upon the cross and was the perfect and holy sacrifice, once and for all. No more, no less. If someone in your life can't make this claim today, tell him/her who Jesus is to you. Answer the question of quintessential importance before this person. Tell your story with every spiritual heartbeat within you.

Blessings and Agape this Christmas
Dr. Linda B. Greer

The Deliverer by Kathi Macias

Kathi has a "coup de grace" with her third book, The Deliverer, in the series on the tragedies and means for redemption for victims of modern day sexual slavery. It's great to have Kathi on my blog once again to interview her on this recent book.

This last book in Kathi's series was a great read. I think I finished The Deliverer in about three days. That's unusual for me, but I had to know the ending! As usual, Kathi paints and repaints the characters in their own voices chapter after chapter. Even if you hadn't read the first two books of the series, you could quickly catch on to the background and status of each character.

I liked the time frame of this book as it takes place over much of our holiday season to celebrate Thanksgiving and the birth and delivery of Jesus by Mary. I especially liked the plot in this book because it was more of an internal and spiritual journey for our protagonist, Mara. Her transformation into a believer was a slow and gradual process of surrendering mental territory to God's will and ways. This was so similar to my own new birth in Christ, a long and sometimes painful "delivery".

Kathi, a special and repeat guest on my Spiritual Heartbeats blog, is here to discuss her recent book, The Deliverer. So let's get on with the Q and A's, alright?

1.      How similar was the pace of Mara's conversion to your own experience? Tell us how you came to know Jesus as your Deliverer and Savior.

• I wasn’t raised in a Christian home, but I had sporadic exposure to Christianity via attending with friends now and then when I was little. I even thought I wanted to be a nun at one time (I suppose I was always searching), so I convinced my parents to let me live in a convent for a few months as a teenager. I didn’t last long and was quickly convinced that was not my calling! I was actually 26 and struggling with my personal life/relationships when I somehow (not sure it was a “vision” as such) saw Jesus, walking toward me, carrying His cross. He was bleeding and bent over, stumbling as He walked. I was standing in a crowd, watching him. As He drew closer, I began to weep at the pain and sorrow so evident on His face. Then He was right in front of me. He looked past everyone else and spoke five words that changed my life forever: “I did it for you.” I’d heard that Jesus “died for the sins of the world,” but now it was personal—and radical. I did a 180 and never looked back.

2. In this book, Mara has to go way back to her childhood to fully forgive what happened when she was eight years old. In this scene, there seems to be no protection for her mother from a very abusive husband, Mara's father. Is this normal for the law to turn a blind eye in Mexico to spousal abuse?

• To some degree, yes, particularly when they live far from the city and try to keep their family secrets” private. It’s very sad, but unfortunately common. 

 

3. In a subplot, we see some difficulties in adopting and acclimating an older child from a totally different culture. Where did you get the insight for describing this in your novel? How many years does it usually take for a person like this to feel comfortable in a new home and our American culture?

• I’m not sure if there are any studies or statistics about how long this would take, but the few victims I spoke with said the healing process is extensive and long-term. I would imagine it is even more so for a child who has been so damaged, lost her parents, and then is transported to a foreign culture/country. Despite how loving the family might be, the child has a lot of baggage, and it’s not going to be resolved easily.

 4. Mara struggles with her attraction to Jonathan Flannery. Why is it necessary for her to resolve old issues of bitterness before she can forge a new one with this Christian man?

• This is imperative because, understandably, this girl also carries untold baggage and is in great need of healing. Without a deeply meaningful experience/conversion and then a reconciliation with the past through forgiveness, it would be impossible for her ever to have a normal relationship. In her mind, men are the enemy, so to be able to trust one is a huge step. Jonathan's character would have to move slowly for this relationship to grow and flourish.

5. In this book there seems to be a liberal dose of words spoken by God to our characters. The literati would describe this as "deus ex machina". Why did you choose this as a method in moving your plot along?

• I suppose because I strongly believe God still speaks to us today. When Dr. Billy Graham was asked by a prominent TV host if he believed God actually spoke to him, Dr. Graham replied that he believed God speaks to everyone—but few take the time to listen.

6. I would have liked seeing more of Jonathan interacting with the "new" Mara in this book. If you could change one thing about this story, what would it be?

• I’m not sure I would make any changes. I like to leave stories open-ended, so long as the basic loose ends are tied together, which I believe they are in The Deliverer.

7. Tell us what you'll be working on the next six months, God willing, and what your other activities will be. I certainly would like to meet you some day if you ever make it over to the Southeastern states, my friend.

• Oh, I do hope to be in your area of the country one day soon! Right now I am just starting book three in a new series for New Hope Publishers. These three novels are contemporary stories about modern-day issues (interracial romance, abortion, people with disabilities), told against the backdrop of a quilt representing the life of a woman of faith and courage who made a difference (i.e., Harriet Tubman, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, Fanny Crosby).

Kathi, thanks for bringing us your take on this book, The Deliverer, and answering my interview questions. For more information on Kathi Macias, her books, and organizations supporting the release and re-entry of sexual slaves into a normal lifestyle, you can go to the following web sites:

Website: www.kathimacias.com

International Justice Mission: http://www.ijm.org/resources

Salvation Army: http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf/vw-dynamic-index/8081a4079639d55a802573e000530965?opendocument

Order book link:

http://www.christianbook.com/the-deliverer-freedom-kathi-macias/9781596693081/pd/693081?product_redirect=1&Ntt=693081&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

 

Blessings and Agape as you celebrate Christ's Birth and Give Thanks to God,

Dr. Linda B. Greer

Sugar, Sugar! Oh, Honey, Honey!

Most of us remember this good old soul song. But lately it's taking on some new meaning for me. I used to be a sugar savant and sparingly indulged, but currently I can't get enough of it. We're talking major binging, here. One evening this week I ate 5 iced cupcakes! And then I still had room for some real food for dinner.

I wish I could crave God the way I do sugar. After all, craving God would be so much healthier and I wouldn't keep going up a dress size. I'm ashamed of putting my priorities upside down. In fact, sugar is like poison to somebody who has fibromyalgia--like I do. It increases overall pain and I am feeling it!

It's like Paul said when he talked about doing the things he shouldn't, and not doing the very things he should. He was upside down spiritually, just like I get upside down with my own cravings. Gee Willies! My one salvation is craving to sing His praises more than to eat cupcakes. I joined the choir at my church a year ago and it has been such a sweet time to practice and then to help lead the congregation in glorious songs about our God. We've even done a one night revival at a sister church in Gaffney that was so much fun.

Christmas is coming in less than 3 months and we will soon start working on that special music. We can't wait to get our mouths around the new choral tunes. Our choir has grown tremendously in the last year, and we're having trouble squeezing all of us into the loft. (Maybe others have been eating too many cupcakes, too?)

Well, I hope the rest of you are NOT running to get something sweet after hearing about my downfall. Go do...5 leg lifts, 4 sit-ups, 3 jumping jacks, 2 windmills, and drink fruit smothies with few'r calories (to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas").

Pray for my resolve to return to normal and for sugar to be a poor substitute for the real meat of God's word!

Compliments of www.whfoods.org

Blessings and A-grape-eh?
Linda B. Greer

Building Character into Our Countrymen and Countrywomen

Another summer has come and nearly gone with the advent of children returning to public, private, and home schools. Our country sits at a tremulous crossroads while the world watches. Elections this November will decide the fate of those very children returning to school and during their adult life times. Will Romney prevail or will Obama stay in his power seat, throttling the democracy out of our constitutions and our Constitution?

Estimates are that many baby boomers with grandchildren in the schools won't survive the loss of Social Security for their retirement over the next decades and if Obamacare isn't revoked, they won't survive after age seventy because of rationed medical care anyway.

Our federal government is so deep in debt to China, if the communists called in their debt, we'd have to deed several states over to them--Alaska, Hawaii, Texas?? Who knows. Every new economic report tries to put a positive spin on unemployment while oil barons keep raising the price of fuel. The greed and corruption in our country and government are deafening.

Some say the young ones of today have been coddled and spoon fed with designer jeans and athletic footwear. The nearest they come to having a real social interaction is Skype, Facebook, and YouTube. They've forgotten who their neighbors are and turn inward into a place called My Space with smart phones and movies or violent games on their handheld droids.

It seems the age of information has become the first stage of great fragmentation. Where is the line between reality and existing for the sole purpose of playing with your newest electronic toys? When was the last time your grandson or kid sister had the grace and gratitude to write you a thank you note for their birthday gifts you mailed for a small fortune?

What will the USA look like in 20 years? Most Christians are murmuring about the End Times and all the obvious signs, but what if the tribulation is meant as much for lukewarm "Christians" as it is for atheists? Will our children stand for Christ in the face of mass persecution? Or will they kneel to a Stalinist One World ruler?

Our victory over bleak circumstances seems to all boil down to character, faith in Christ, and inner peace--those things no man can steal from you. The Bible says in Romans 5:1-5, "Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.". [New International Version]

This week I finished reading Ruta Sepetys' landmark young adult fiction based on fact entitled, Between Shades of Gray. It is a story told through the eyes of a 16 year-old daughter in an affluent family of four. Her younger brother, Jonas, and her two parents were Lithuanians during World War II when Stalin came to rape their country of all intelligentsia and influential people. Lawyers, judges, high commanders in the Lithuanian Armed Forces, academics, newspaper editors, and many millions of others from the Baltic regions of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia were quickly deported from a life of happy luxury into a hellish life of starvation, sudden deaths, and a social standing equal to thieves, street women, and beggars.

I read with greatest interest the character traits of those who survived the Siberian gulags. One-third of Lithuania's population alone never returned from Stalin's mass kidnapping and political cleansings. None of this was ever reported to the news media at the time because Russia was our "ally" in crushing Hitler and Mussolini. Even now, Ruta says the survivors are fearful to speak of those dark days when entire families would disappear in the middle of the night and Stalin's tanks rolled into their villages and towns.

So what of the character traits? There was pride in knowing love for your country could never be taken from you. There was love amongst family members who were, by sheer chance, not separated during deportation. Of course, the men were segregated from the women and children first, and most of them dumped into the worst conditions prior to their eventual deaths. The women devised intricate means to get written news to their husbands to see if they were still alive. Family was very important. Young love was even found in the backdrop of bleak circumstances and this kept some persevering.

Although God was not mentioned in Ruta's book unfortunately, it is a subtle underlining to the entire epic tale. Without Christ where would we be? If a ruthless super power took over our country and we were forced into the worst living conditions imaginable, would we persevere? Would we see it as a means of building our character? Would we be able to hope in the midst of all despair because of God's promises and proven miracles?

These are some serious thoughts to ponder as we begin the Fall slide into an important election year, perhaps the most important one of our lives. Can we recapture some of the majesty and morality of our country's foundations or will we crumble and quake as Christians? I chose not to fall into the hands of any interloper on my rights as a believer. How about you?

Please leave a comment. I'd like to know what you think!

Blessings and Agape,
Linda B. Greer

OOPS!

The new set-up for posting blogs to Blogger has got me stumped. I used Word for a Blog document, then pasted it in and still had editing issues. Tried to delete what  I thought was an empty "New Post" and wiped out the entire library of this year's posts to my blog, except for the one below! Well, I'm awfully sorry and as usual, I don't have a back-up for any of the others. Hope you all read them before they were wisped off Blogger!

Bashfully Yours,
Dr. Linda B. Greer

Interview with Kathi Macias: Special Delivery

 

Kathi Macias is an accomplished Christian writer who tackles some very tough social issues in her novels. Currently her focus is on the battle against human slavery and sex trafficking. I interviewed her on her first book in this Freedom Series on this blog. Please refer to that interview for links to organizations where you can take action and help in this fight! I hope you enjoy today's interview.(http://spiritualheartbeats.blogspot.com/2011/09/kmacias-interview-deliver-me-from-evil.html)

1) Your protagonist from your last book of the series (Deliver me from Evil) has survived and escaped captivity as a sex slave in Southern California. At the beginning of the book, she chooses to return to the same area to live. If it were me, I would want to live as far away as possible to avoid contact with anyone from my past. Can you explain her motives?

There is a law in the US that helps non-citizens who have been victims of a crime to get a sort of “fast track” to citizenship, but they need to have sponsors/connections who are citizens nearby. Mara’s only real friend is an older woman named Barbara, who lives in the San Diego area. Because the brothel where Mara had been held has been shut down and the men who were her captives put in jail, she was able to settle in the area without too much fear of repercussion.

2) Jonathan and Leah, the brother and sister, reappear in this novel. You manage to make their transition into more mature adults (college junior and high school graduate) so easily. Where did you learn this technique?

One of the biggest helps for me in developing believable characters was studying drama. Though I never aspired to a career onstage, it was a huge help to me to learn how to “climb in someone else’s skin.” I also did biblical counseling for several years on a large church staff, so that too was a great help in gathering insight into people and how to bring them to life.

3) The ties between two Asian sisters in this book who live continents apart and in such diametrically opposite circumstances seem like “a chord of three that cannot be easily broken”. Do you think this is typical of Asian siblings?

I don’t have a lot of personal experience in that area; but from talking to people who do, it seems to be the case. They take family ties very seriously, more than we do here in the West. It is not at all unusual to find several generations of a family living together in Asian cultures. I like that and think we could benefit from doing more of that here. Perhaps with our tight economy we may be forced to do so.

4) Leah promises to be an extraordinary good mother by her interaction and babysitting with Anna. Does this foreshadow her future in your next book of this series (The Deliverer)?

No, The Deliverer doesn’t go that far into the future. But you’re right that Leah’s responsible    personality lends itself to excellent parenting in the future.

 

5) Jonathan still has mixed feelings about Mara, the girl he helped free from sexual slavery in Deliver me from Evil. Do you think it is beyond practical and probable that they would have a future together and why?

I never want to discount the fact that God can do anything, though you’re correct. This is not a practical possibility for the two of them. However, book three, The Deliverer, will continue to develop the possibility—though I won’t tell you how it ends up. No spoilers!

6) Barbara is a staunch advocate for eliminating modern day slavery of children and your teens for sex trafficking. Can you give us a clue where you found your model for this character in your book?

Barbara is the lady we’d all love to have as an older friend and/or mother figure. I’ve known a couple of ladies through the years who had her qualities, and now that I’m in my “golden years,” I long to be that sort of role model to other young women.

7) Mara appears to be following in Barbara’s steps as she takes some chances in this novel to help another young girl. How wise do you think her character is in doing this and what do you think motivates her?

I’m not sure if Mara’s choices would be deemed “wise” for the plain and simple fact, they were dangerous. And yet there are times we must “throw caution to the wind” and step out in faith when someone’s life is on the line. Courage is about doing the right thing, even when we’re scared and our knees are knocking.

8) Klahan, an Asian middle-aged man, becomes a kind of hero in this book. Where do you think he gets his strength for this?

Klahan was indeed a “mixed bag” of personality traits. His initial motives weren’t exactly pure, and yet God used him to accomplish what otherwise seemed to be impossible. I believe his strength came from God, even if he didn’t realize it until later.

 

9) There’s a trap set for Mara in this book and it gets pretty frightening. What is the likelihood she could be found and helped by strangers in the middle of the night?

In real life, the chances are slim. In movies and novels, chances are much better. And, of course, figuring in the God factor, anything is possible!

10) Leah’s best friend, Sarah, gets a rude awakening in this book. Some of her long-time dreams are dashed. How do you think this will influence her behavior toward Mara?

This is a key element in the final book in the series, The Deliverer. Sarah will have to do some serious self-examination, not only of her own personal motives but of her lukewarm commitment to God.

11)   Give us a sneak preview of your final novel in this series. It’s due out in August of this year.

The Deliverer picks up just months after Special Delivery leaves off, continuing with the stories of Mara, freed from slavery but still struggling with scars and memories from the past; Jonathan, attending Bible college but strongly drawn to Mara, despite her past; and Lawan, having escaped the brothel in Thailand and miraculously reunited with her younger sister in the US and adopted by the same family. Will Mara be able to move past the pain and hatred that bind her, even if it means traveling back to the place where her parents betrayed her and sold her into sexual slavery? Will she allow The Deliverer to set her free—once and for all?

Thanks for the interview, Kathi! As usual, you have given us another well-knit novel in your Freedom Series. I can’t wait to read the final piece!

            For more about Kathi Macias, Christian Author and staunch believer in Jesus Christ and the transforming power of God, visit: www.kathimacias.com
           
To see Kathi’s book trailer for The Deliverer, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NobFUST7xlk
           
If you’d like to pre-order her next book in the Freedom Series, please visit:
            http://www.amazon.com/Deliverer-Freedom-Kathi-Macias/dp/1596693088/ref=sr_1_19?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341955699&sr=1-19&keywords=Kathi+Macias or go to

http://www.christianbook.com/3-the-deliverer-kathi-macias/9781596693081/pd/693081?product_redirect=1&Ntt=693081&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

Blessings and Agape,

Dr. Linda B. Greer

God’s Blessings Be Upon You

May you lift your gaze to the heavens and hunger for the Lord, your God.

May your help come from Him, the Maker of all creation.

May He not let your feet slip outside of His Holy ways.

May He keep you safe day and night, for He never rests.

May He encompass you as you go out and come in.

May the Lord be your shade by day so the sun will not harm you.

May He be your shelter when the moon shimmers by night.

May He protect you with His mighty hand and watch over you – now and forevermore.

    I borrowed the above from a Sunday School notice. It seemed to cover every aspect of our lives concerning God's interplay with our own. How often do we ask for specific prayer answers but not for the incomprehensible covering of our Almighty God's Blessings? Surely we believe in living within the will of God, but do we ask for the blessings to coincide with our efforts to be holy?

     As Easter weekend approaches, what blessing do you long for most in your life? Do you wish to fully comprehend the extent of Christ's suffering and share in his suffering for the sake of our Lord? Probably not. Who of us wants to ask for more pain and tribulation? The mysterious oxymoron in life is suffering was the birthing of our salvation and peace with God. It was also the doorway to His Blessings.
     If we, as Christians, never suffer we miss the whole point of the crucifixtion and the joy of Christ's resurrection into embodied glory. Give thanks to God for your trials. Give thanks to God for your suffering. Give thanks to God for tears shed in the dark of night. He is our Father, Abba. He wants good to come out of what the world sees as bad. That is the tranforming power of the Holy Spirit through our faith in Christ, Our Risen Savior! May your spiritual heartbeats echo the message of the gospel within your soul this week. (John 3: 16-21)

May God be with each of you this Easter Season,

Linda B. Greer

Lasting Memories and Loving Comfort

Dear Fellow Writers, Publishing Friends, and Good Friends,

After over two years of hustling in the writing world, I have finally earned my first small paycheck for a short story about dogs as part of an anthology to be published by Lonnie Hull DuPont. Oh, my! I guess it will cover the cost for all the paper I have used or thrown away trying to become an accomplished writer. Thanks be to God for His gracious gifts.

 

I had a wonderful time this past Friday at the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton (pronounced as Clinnon) with Dr. Edna Ellison who spoke to ladies from various area churches on "Putting God First in Your Life". I also made a closer acquaintance with two friends from our common writing group in Spartanburg, Blessed Temple and Dianna. We laughed ourselves into tears on our voyage.

Edna was gracious enough to let me have a small end of her long publications table, and I actually got 4 orders for Susan T. Osborn's anthology Too Soon to Say Goodbye. The women who came to my end of the table were recounting very recent suicides in their circle of friends. I was glad to be able to offer some comfort and a well-written book for them to give to the victims of suicide in their community.

Suicide is becoming an all too often end to lives these days. How sad to suddenly lose a loved one to such a hurtful death. It is an especially deep wound when there is no note left, and you are wondering, "Why did this happen? What could I have done? Were there signs I missed on life's roadway?"

 

I know, as a contributor to this anthology from my husband's sudden suicide in the Army oveseas, it took me at least three years of recovery to function. I still had two young daughters we brought into the world to mother.

Everyone takes their own path and time to grieve a suicide. Their spiritual heartbeats are weak, irregular, and pining to find God through a valley of tears. Putting time limits on a mourning person just adds to their weight of grief.

Another word of advice to well-meaning friends: When someone has told you their young relative or spouse has died, please don't ask what happened. The surviving members of the family don't know the answer to a suicide and may never know for sure this side of eternity. Offer the mourning person Christian comraderie, your ears, and your prayers. And give them lots of hugs, too!

Blessings and Agape,

Linda B. Greer